Loanscope

02/09/2026

New research from Finder suggests a lot of Australian mortgage holders may be leaving money on the table without realising it.

Finder's 2026 Home Loan Report found that 35% of mortgage holders believe they couldn't save anything by refinancing. Yet the average refinancing cashback offer this year has sat between $2,000 and $4,000, and that's before factoring in any reduction in the interest rate itself.

The report also found that only 45% of mortgage holders feel confident they could switch to a more favourable loan today, with income, fixed-rate terms and limited equity cited as the most common barriers.

For many borrowers, the gap between what they assume and what's actually available comes down to not having visibility across the full lending market. That’s where a broker can help.



If you haven't reviewed your home loan in the past 12 months, the Loanscope team can run a quick health check across a wide panel of lenders. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

27/08/2026

Many accountants work with clients in specific professions without realising those clients may qualify for a lending concession that could bring their purchase forward by years.

Several lenders extend lender’s mortgage insurance (LMI) waivers to accountants, engineers and other professionals with stable, high-earning careers, the same reasoning applied to doctors and lawyers. That means clients working in accounting or engineering, and possibly you and your practice’s partners, may be sitting on an option they didn’t know was available to them.

Policies vary a lot between lenders. Some restrict waivers to certain professions while others extend them further, each with different income thresholds and requirements attached. The good news is you don’t have to keep track of all of this – we do it for you.

So if you have a client with 10 or 15% of the deposit saved and who is waiting for the full 20% before they buy, contact us to check whether they can get into the market sooner without paying LMI.



If you have clients who might qualify for an LMI waiver, the Loanscope team can walk you through it. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

25/08/2026

Buyers may be gaining more room to negotiate, with Cotality data showing vendor discounting has risen nationally.

Across the combined capital cities, the median discount between initial asking price and final sale price widened to 3.9% in the three months to July, up from 3.2% the same time last year. Regional markets moved more modestly, from 3.6% to 3.7%.

The shift lines up with a steady rise in property listings, which has handed buyers a stronger negotiating position than they've had in some time.

If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for a bit more breathing room, the gap between what sellers ask and what they accept is now the widest it's been in months.



Thinking about making a move while conditions favour buyers? Our team can help you understand your borrowing power and structure the right loan. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

23/08/2026

Buyer confidence just posted its biggest jump since last November.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute “time to buy a dwelling” index rose 12.1% between July and August, its highest reading since November 2025. The jump followed the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to hold the cash rate twice so far this year. This appears to have given buyers more confidence in where borrowing costs are heading.

Even so, the index remains below its long-run average, and the improvement isn’t consistent across the country. Sentiment has lifted more in Sydney and Melbourne than in regional areas.

For anyone weighing up a purchase this year, rising confidence tends to bring more buyers back to inspections and auctions. A more settled rate environment can ease hesitation, even though affordability pressures haven’t disappeared entirely.

Timing a purchase around shifting sentiment isn’t an exact science, but understanding where confidence is heading can help you plan your next steps.



If you want to be ready to act before competition picks up further, the Loanscope team can help you secure finance. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

20/08/2026

If you're looking to secure a more favourable interest rate, access equity for renovations or switch to a loan with features that suit you better, refinancing might be the answer. But before making the move, it helps to understand what's actually involved.

Refinancing means replacing your current home loan with a new one, either with your existing lender or a different one. It can also make sense if your financial position has improved since you first borrowed, potentially unlocking a different rate than the one you're currently on.

That said, refinancing isn't free. Break costs, discharge fees and new establishment costs can add up, and if your loan-to-value ratio has shifted, you may need to factor in lender’s mortgage insurance again.

Comparing the full cost of switching against the potential savings is the best way to know if refinancing makes sense for you.



The Loanscope team can help you weigh up whether refinancing makes sense for your situation. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

18/08/2026

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate on hold at 4.35%, but the language in its statement was a reminder that "on hold" doesn't mean "done".

The Board noted inflation is still too high and said it will keep raising rates further if needed. For borrowers, this raises a common question: if the cash rate doesn't move, does that mean your variable rate is safe?

Not necessarily. Your lender's variable rate is influenced by the cash rate, but it isn't set by it directly. Lenders also factor in their own funding costs, which are shaped by things like wholesale money markets and bond yields, both mentioned in the RBA's own statement as having risen this year. This is why lenders sometimes move rates independently of the RBA, in either direction.

It's a useful distinction to keep in mind, since a hold on the cash rate doesn't guarantee your own rate stays put.



If you'd like to understand how your current rate compares to the market, the Loanscope team can help. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

16/08/2026

New forecasts suggest the current softer conditions in some property markets may not last long.

KPMG's latest Residential Property Market Outlook forecasts house prices falling in Sydney (-4.4%), Melbourne (-5.0%) and Canberra (-2.6%) for the rest of 2026, before bouncing back in 2027 as the housing shortage bites again. Nationally, unit prices are expected to hold up better than houses, thanks to better affordability and rental returns.

This softer window could be a real opportunity for first home buyers. KPMG expects the ongoing housing shortage to drive prices back up once current pressures, including high interest rates and cost-of-living strain, start to ease.

Buying in a softer market can mean less competition and more room to negotiate, which could make now a good time to move if you're in a position to.



Sorting your borrowing position now means you can move quickly when the right opportunity shows up. The Loanscope team can help. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

13/08/2026

For many first home buyers, saving a full deposit feels like the biggest barrier to owning a home. A guarantor loan is one way around that, but there are a few things you need to know before asking a family member to help.

A guarantor loan allows a family member, usually a parent, to use equity in their own property as security for your loan. This can help you borrow with a smaller deposit, and in some cases, avoid lender's mortgage insurance.

But there are some things you and your guarantor need to consider. The guarantor isn't just giving their blessing – they're legally responsible for part of the debt if you're unable to meet repayments. Most lenders also allow the guarantee to be limited to a set amount, rather than the full loan.

Given the shared risk, an open conversation with your family and your broker can help you decide if this structure suits your situation.



Thinking about asking a family member to help you buy? The Loanscope team can walk you through how a guarantor loan works. Visit loanscope.com.au or call us on 03 9988 1818.

12/08/2026

HSBC is reducing its local footprint. They will stop their retail presence in Australia.
Surprisingly, the current home loan book will be looked after by a non-bank going forward.
If you are currently with HSBC, we have major banks happy to match your current rate for loans over $700,000.
Contact us if you need to discuss

12/08/2026

HSBC is reducing its local footprint. They will stop their retail presence in Australia.

Surprisingly, the current home loan book will be looked after by a non-bank going forward.

If you are currently with HSBC, we have major banks happy to match your current rate for loans over $700,000.

Contact us if you need to discuss.

Call now to connect with business.